Interview with Bernard Felix Xavier

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Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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Description

Object description

Portuguese signalman served with Royal Navy in Hong Kong, 1940-1941; worked as agent for Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in Portuguese Macau, 1942-1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Hong Kong, 1920-1938: family; education. Aspects of period as policeman with Shanghai Municipal Police in Shanghai, China, 1938-1939: character of training; reasons for leaving police force. Aspects of period as signalman with Royal Navy in Hong Kong and Singapore, Malaya, 1940-1941: training as signaller at HMS Tamar, Hong Kong; joining HMS Thracian in Singapore, Malaya; Japanese agent who operated in Hong Kong; build up of tension prior to Japanese attack on Hong Kong. Recollections of operations as signalman with Royal Navy in Hong Kong, 12/1941: character of Japanese attack; role helping evacuate troops from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island. REEL 2 Continues: hearing stories of Imperial Japanese Army troop's behaviour from personnel from 1st Bn Royal Scots; scuttling of HMS Barlight, 19/12/1941; surrender of Hong Kong, 25/12/1941; advice he received from his officer, 25/12/1941; treatment of his family by Imperial Japanese Army troops; aid received from Portuguese consulate, 25/12/1941. Recollections of journey to Kweilin, China via Portuguese Macau and recruitment to Office of Strategic Services (OSS), 1942: aid received from British consul in Portuguese Macau; junk voyage from Portuguese Macau to China, 1942; arrival at British Army Aid Group Headquarters in Kweilin; story of football match in Kweilin; making approach to Office of Strategic Services (OSS). REEL 3 Continues: employment as intelligence agent. Recollections of period as intelligence agent for Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in Portuguese Macau, 1942-1945: his mission to Portuguese Macau; contacting German intermediary to get into Imperial Japanese Army Headquarters; his offer to give Japanese information about air base at Kweilin, China; information he gave Japanese; interrogations by Japanese; going into hiding; joining police force; United States Army Air Force attack on shipping from information he gave. Aspects of life after 1945: reaction to lack of recognition at end of Second World War; migration to GB, 12/1950; jobs in Isleworth, GB. REEL 4 Continues: life in GB. Reflections on period in Hong Kong, Portuguese Macau and Kweilin, China, 1941-1945: personnel in British Army Aid Group; tension between British and American personnel; fake fight he staged with American serviceman; beating received from Imperial Japanese Army guard in Hong Kong after surrender, 12/1941; memories of Jack Braga his contact man in Macao.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Xavier, Bernard Felix (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1999-12-21
Dimensions: whole: Duration 105, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 19926

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Interview with Bernard Felix Xavier

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